South African President Punishes Minister for Violating Lockdown Regulations

(AFRICAN
EXAMINER) – President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Minister of Communications and
Digital Technologies, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, on a two-month special leave
after she violated lockdown regulations, the Presidency said on Wednesday.

Of Ndabeni-Abrahams’ two months special
leave, one month will be unpaid, the Presidency said in a statement.

“As to allegations that the minister
violated the lockdown regulations, the law should take its course,”
presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko said.

This followed the revelation on social
media that the minister had recently visited the home of a friend who hosted a
lunch, contrary to the lockdown regulations, Diko said.

Ramaphosa summoned the minister on
Tuesday to express his disapproval of the minister’s actions, which undermine
the requirement that all citizens stay at home and save the country from the
spread of the coronavirus, said Diko.

Ramaphosa accepted Ndabeni-Abrahams’
apology for the violation but was unmoved by mitigating factors she tendered,
according to Diko.

The president has reprimanded the minister
and directed her to deliver a public apology to the nation, Diko said.

During Ndabeni-Abrahams’ special leave,
Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu will act in her position, Diko said.

The nation-wide lockdown calls for
absolute compliance on the part of all South Africans.

This must include members of the National
Executive who carry a special responsibility in setting an example to South
Africans, who are making great sacrifices, Ramaphosa said in the statement.

“None of us – not least a member of the
National Executive – should undermine our national effort to save lives in this
very serious situation,” said Ramaphosa.

The president said he was satisfied that
Ndabeni-Abrahams appreciates the seriousness of what she has done and that
no-one is above the law.

Since the 21-day lockdown took effect on
midnight March 26, up to 20,000 people have been arrested across the country
for violating the lockdown regulations.

However,
the country had 1749 coronavirus cases, 13 death and 95 recovered. (Xinhua/NAN)